Road test: Mercedes-AMG A45

You get 381hp from the 2-litre turbo, 190hp per litre - to put that in perspective, the V8 in the Ferrari 488 Spider we drove manages 160hp a litre

AMG’s smallest offering is the A45 you see here. Fast, grippy and full of mischief.

Let’s start with the engine because the figures are fairly astonishing.

You could reasonably expect to lose your licence in the time it takes to read this paragraph

You get 381hp from the 2-litre turbo, 190hp per litre. To put that in perspective, the V8 in the Ferrari 488 Spider I drove, manages 160hp a litre.

Unless someone knows otherwise, this is the most powerful four-cylinder engine in production. Note: the Audi RS3 is 400hp but that’s a five-pot. At ease, people.

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It’s front-led but sends half the power to the rear wheels before a code brown moment

Potent, then? Yes. 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and lots of meaty torque. You could reasonably expect to lose your licence in the time it takes to read this paragraph. Your insurance policy bombing down a damp B-road is Merc’s 4MATIC four-wheel-drive system.

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Unless someone knows otherwise, this is the most powerful four-cylinder engine in production

It’s front-led but sends half the power to the rear wheels before a code brown moment. A front axle diff lock is optional for hero cornering. That kills understeer. Other observations. Great chassis, big brakes, flappy paddles, sounds good, rather handsome. And bleedin’ fast. Have I said that already? There is a lot to love here.

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The red air vents on the dash are a bit Halfords

But I do have issues. The red air vents on the dash are a bit Halfords but mostly it’s down to the price.

We’re talking £42,000 for the base car and close to £50k when you add toys.

That’s too expensive when held up next to a Mountune Focus RS. But you do get an AMG badge.

MERCEDES-AMG G 63

GERMAN tank, natural habitat: Chelsea. Sadly, most G-Wagens are celebrity “whips” and never leave the concrete jungle. But they can climb 1:1 slopes and swim through a hippo’s bedroom. AMG versions go faster than a smackhead’s giro.

SLS AMG BLACK SERIES

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If I could have one AMG, it would be this one. Yep, the one with the gullwing doors

MERCEDES-AMG GT R

TODAY’S poster hero – but soon to be demoted to second by the Project 1 hypercar, and then to third after the AMG GT Black Series (yep, it’s coming). Nosebleed fast, noisy, rear-wheel steering, trick aero, much fun.

WHICH ONE WOULD I GO FOR?

UNDER £10,000:
HMMM. I’d go for an old-school E55. V8, loud, quick in a straight line, easy to live with. Look for 1998 models with less than 100,000 miles.

UNDER £18,000:
EASY. 2003 SL55 AMG. It sounds like a Spitfire – er, make that Messerschmitt – with its 5.5-litre supercharged V8 and short exhausts.

UNDER £25,000
C63. C-Class with 6.3-litre firing 487bhp to the rear wheels. So obscenely noisy and fabulous, your neighbours will hate you. I might get one.

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WIN:AS we speak, nothing is cooler than Lego. Especially this £12.99 Lego Mercedes-AMG GT3 race car. For your chance to win it, follow my Instagram page here by 6pm on Sunday. You’ve got to promise to build it and send me a photo sporting a massive grin while holding two thumbs-up.

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